Hanging on Ryler DeHeart’s locker at the Atkins Tennis Center is a poster of the world’s No. 1 tennis player Roger Federer, clad in a cardinal red shirt, pumping his fist.

The poster, which DeHeart has had “for a while” is well worn. After all, the senior, who plans to pursue a professional tennis career after this season, has used it to motivate himself for years.

Now, however, DeHeart is motivating others, including his teammates. On Wednesday, the Big Ten Conference took notice, naming DeHeart the Big Ten Men’s Tennis Player of the Week for his role in Illinois’ victories over No. 30 Kentucky, No. 61 Northwestern and unranked Wisconsin.

“It’s always good to be honored in the Big Ten,” DeHeart said. “The Big Ten has come a long way in tennis and we’re doing a lot better.”

It is the fourth time DeHeart has won the award in his career. He won his first two Big Ten Men’s Tennis Player of the Week awards during his sophomore season, grabbing his third honor earlier this season.

DeHeart’s endless awards and accomplishments – which include being the winningest singles player in Illinois history – are too numerous to list, but his teammates said that it is DeHeart’s ability to inspire them that makes him admirable.

Friendly and open, he willingly listens to his teammates’ problems, helping them craft viable solutions, said Illinois freshman Marc Spicijaric. He also arranges his schedule, when possible, to help accommodate his teammates in need of rides – whether to weightlifting, the tennis center, or home after practice.

“He is a great captain,” Spicijaric said. “The way he competes out on the court is an experience, you can’t really describe that, you just admire it.”

The senior, who is 15-3 against ranked opponents, won all of his singles and doubles matches since the Illini faced the Wildcats more than a week ago.

DeHeart defeated No. 56 Alex Hume at Kentucky 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. He topped Wisconsin’s Jeremy Sonkin 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in front of the Badgers’ fans. And, he finished the road trip with a win over Christian Tempke. He downed Tempke 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6. The senior has won every three-set match he has played this season.

“It shows how tough a competitor he is,” senior Pramod Dabir said. “He is a guy everyone looks up to.”

DeHeart, who is a leader on and off the court, balances athletic success and academic endeavors well. He is a psychology major with a pre-medicine concentration.

Despite being a graduating senior, DeHeart has many more obstacles to overcome before he begins his professional tennis career. He would like to help the men’s tennis team to a Big Ten Tournament Championship. He would also like to end his career the same way he started it – by winning a NCAA title. DeHeart, who became an All-American last season, would most likely be invited to compete in both the singles and doubles portions of the NCAA Championships.

Until the NCAA Championships, DeHeart will continue to stay focused on the present moment. His dreams of professional glory have taken a backseat to his education and his hunt for collegiate glory. He would like to have success at the professional level and knows that there are not many people who can have the unprecedented success of Federer. So, he will keep practicing, working and trying to develop his game.

“(Federer’s) really good,” DeHeart said. “And he plays like the way I want to play, and I think about that when I see him (on the poster everyday).”